This is a list of the most commonly found wildflowers along the Natchez Trace Parkway. The list is organized by color and

then blooming period. The common name of each plant is given followed by the scientific name. The list also contains

blooming periods, geographic distribution, and plant characteristics. The distribution of the plants along the Natchez Trace

Parkway is divided into four regions: NJ = Natchez to Jackson, JT = Jackson to Tupelo, TT = Tupelo to the Tennessee

state line, TN = Tennessee state line to Nashville. The blooming periods as well as the plant distributions were extracted

from Wildflowers of the Natchez Trace. The authors warn that both are approximations. The wildflowers most frequently

noticed by parkway visitors have been denoted by shading.

Most of the plant characteristic information was extracted from the two primary texts Wildflowers of the Natchez Trace

and Wildflowers of Tennessee. The characteristics section consists of the following information: a)type b)size c)flower

color d)distinguishing characteristic e)frequency of occurrence f)habitat g)the corresponding page numbers for finding

each plant in the primary texts (i.e. “17,46” for May-Apple means page 17 in Wildflowers of the Natchez Trace

Parkway and page 46 in Wildflowers of Tennessee).

WHITE FLOWERS

NAME

BLOOM PERIOD

DISTRIBUTION

CHARACTERISTICS

NJ

JT

TT

TN

Dogwood Cornus florida

March - April

x

x

x

x

a)small tree; b)to 40’ tall; c)whitish green d)cross-shaped flowers e)common; f)woods g)24, NA

May-Apple Podophyllum peltatum

March - April

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)8-18"; c)white; d)umbrella-like foliage; e)common; f)moist woods/meadows; g)17,46

Chickasaw Plum Prunus angustifolia

March - April

x

x

x

x

a)shrub or small tree; b)5-9'; c)white; d)thicket forming, spiny tipped branches; e)common; f)fence rows/meadows; g)18,n/a

Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta

March - May

x

x

x

x

a)bunch/spreading; b)4-16”; c)white; d)small 4-pedaled flowers (0.1”) and slender pods on stalks; e)common; f)meadows; g)n/a,86

Service Berry Amelanchier arborea

March - May

x

x

a)shrub or small tree; b)6-26'; c)white; d)5 strap-shaped petals; e)occasional; f)woods; g)20,n/a

Indian Tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia

March - May

x

x

a)upright; b)to 12"; c)white; d)clustered flower heads at top of stalk with bristles; e)common; f)dry woods/meadows; g)16,273

Toothwort Cardamine concatenata

March - May

x

x

x

a)upright; b)to 1'; c)pinkish/lavender; d)whirl of three leaf stalks, three leaves on each stalk; e)common; f)moist woods; g)38,88

Spring Beauty Claytonia virginica

March - May

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)4-10"; c)white/pale pink; d)pink veins on flowers; e)common; f)woods/meadows; g)37,53

Wild Azalea Rhododendron canescens

March - May

x

x

x

x

a)upright shrub; b)to 9'; c)white/deep pink; d)tubular flowers, 5-9 per cluster; e)frequent; f)swamps/moist woods; g)30,101

Doll's Eye Actaea pachypoda

April - May

x

x

a)upright; b)1½ - 4'; c)white; d)small flowers in compact cluster on long stalk; e)common; f)woods; g)8,32

Fringe- Tree Chionanthus virginicus

April - May

x

x

x

x

a)upright shrub; b)to 20'; c)white; d)leaves thick, flowers droop in clusters with ribbon-like petals; e)occasional; f)woods; g)33,n/a

Oak-Leaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia

April - June

x

x

a)shrub; b)to 8'; c)white/purplish; d)leaves similar to red oak; e)common; f)woods/hillsides; g)35,110

Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia

April - June

x

x

x

a)shrub; b)to 10'; c)green; d)bowl shaped leaves with purple spots; e)common; f)dry woods; g)31,98

Blackberry Rubus ostryifolius

April - June

x

x

x

x

a)shrub; b)to 7'; c)white; d)arching branches with thorns; e)common; f)meadows/wood borders; g)22,n/a

Red Trillium Trillium erectum

April - June

x

a)upright; b)1-1.5'; c)white; d)ill scented, leaves are whorled around stalk, 3-petaled flowers; e)rare; f)moist woods; g)10,376

Corn Salad Valerianella radiata

April - June

x

x

x

a)upright; b)0.5-2.5'; c)white; d)5 lobed flowers and forked branches; e)common; f)open disturbed sites; g)11,270

Ox-Eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare

April - Aug

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)8"-3'; c)white; d)flower has 20-30 petals and a flat yellow disk; e)occasional; f)meadows/disturbed areas; g)14,n/a

Elderberry Sambucus canadensis

April - Aug

x

x

x

x

a)shrub; b)to 10'; c)white; d)6” wide flat-topped cluster of tiny flowers; e)common; f)moist woods/meadows; g)36,268

Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica

April - Sept

x

x

x

x

a)climbing or trailing vine; b)NA; c) white/cream/red; d)tubular aromatic flowers; e)frequent; f)woods/meadows; g)40,267

Daisy Fleabane Erigeron strigosus

April - Oct

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)15"-3'; c)white/yellow; d)disk flower with 50-100 rays; e)common; f)disturbed areas; g)15,293

Yarrow Achillea millefolium

April - Dec

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)0.5-2'; c)white or pink; d)finely dissected leaves, flat topped flower clusters; e)frequent; f)meadows; g)12,271

Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora

May - June

x

x

x

a)large tree; b)to 100'; c)white; d)stiff leathery leaves with rusty hairs underneath; e)occasional; f)moist or low woods; g)34,n/a

Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora

May - June

x

x

x

x

a)upright shrub; b)to 6.5'; c)white/pink; d)arching stems with curved thorns; e)occasional; f)meadows/open woods; g)21,120

Wild Potato Vine Ipomoea pandurata

May - July

x

x

x

x

a)trailing vine; b)NA; c)white with purple center; d)large funnel-like flower; e)common; f)dry woods/open areas; g)39,201

Spotted Cowbane Cicuta maculata

May - Oct

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)to 7'; c)white; d)stems are purple streaked or spotted; e)frequent; f)wet areas; g)28,175

Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota

May - Dec

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)2.5-5'; c)white; d)lacy-looking flat topped flower cluster; e)frequent; f)dry meadows; g)27,176

Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum

June - Aug

x

x

x

x

a)small/medium tree; b)to 60'; c)white; d)loosely hanging flower stalks, leaves/twigs taste sour; e)infrequent; f)woods; g)29,n/a

Devil’s Walking Stick Aralia spinosa

June - Sept

x

x

x

a)shrub or small tree; b)to 25'; c)white; d)branches armed with prickles; e)infrequent; f)woods/meadows; g)26,n/a

Spider Lily Hymenocallis caroliniana

June - Sept

x

a)upright; b)to 1.5'; c)white; d)tubular flowers with “spider leg” filaments; e)occasional; f)river shoals/wet woods; g)23,381

Rough Button- Weed Diodia teres

June - Dec

x

x

x

x

a)sprawling plant; b)1'; c)pinkish white; d)4-lobed funnel-form flowers; e)common; f)dry meadows/woods; g)41,260

Late Boneset Eupatorium serotinum

July - Oct

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)1.5-5'; c)white; d)9-15 disk flowers grouped into a flat head; e)common; f)open woods/meadows; g)42,297

White Heath Aster Aster pilosus

Sep - Nov

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)2-5'; c)white; d)numerous daisy-like flower heads; e)common; f)open dry areas; g)13,277

RED FLOWERS

NAME

BLOOM PERIOD

DISTRIBUTION

CHARACTERISTICS

NJ

JT

TT

TN

Red Maple Acer rubrum

March - April

x

x

x

x

a)tree; b)20-40'; c)red; d)prolific bloomer, red twigs and buds, opposite branching; e)common; f); g)n/a,n/a

Columbine Aquilegia canadensis

March - May

x

x

a)upright; b)to 3'; c)red & yellow; d)flowers appearing upside down on long stems; e)occasional; f)rocky woody slopes; g)53,n/a

Red Bud Cercis canadensis

March - May

x

x

x

x

a)small tree; b)to 30'; c)pink/rose; d)prolific pea-like flowers and heart-shaped leaves; e)common; f)woods; g)48,n/a

Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens

March - Sept

x

x

a)climbing vine; b)NA; c)red/yellow; d)leaves that are joined around the stem; e)frequent; f)woods/thickets; g)54,267

Red Buckeye Aesculus pavia

April - May

x

x

a)shrub or small tree; b)to 13'; c)red; d)erect flower clusters; e)infrequent; f)woods/low lands; g)46,n/a

Cross Vine Bignonia capreolata

April - May

x

x

x

a)woody vine; b)NA; c)dull red; d)tubular flowers with flared lobes; e)common; f)moist woods; g)57,253

Fire Pink Silene virginica

April - July

x

a)upright; b)0.5-3'; c)red; d)flowers with 5 narrow notched petals; e)common; f)woods; g)45,58

Evening Primrose Oenothera speciosa

April - Sept

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)to 2.5'; c)pink/white; d)nodding 4-petaled flowers; e)occasional; f)meadows; g)60,154

Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa

May - Aug

x

x

a)upright; b)to 2.5'; c)orange-red; d)roughish hairy plant with dense head of flowers; e)common; f)meadows; g)58,193

Indian Pink Spigelia marilandica

May - June

x

x

a)upright; b)to 2'; c)red(greenish/yellow inside); d)trumpet blooms with 5 small lobes; e)common; f)moist woods; g)55,184

Meadow Beauty Rhexia virginica

May - Oct

x

x

a)upright; b)to 3'; c)pink/white; d)4-petaled flowers bent backward; e)common; f)marshes/fields; g)52,155

Crimson Clover Trifolium incarnatum

June - Aug

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)8"-2.5'; c)crimson; d)1” egg-shaped flower heads on long stalks; e)occasional; f)meadows; g)47,142

Blazing Star Liatris aspera

July - Aug

x

x

x

a)upright; b)to 6.5'; c)lavender; d)round flower heads along a spike; e)occasional; f)meadows; g)59,312

Queen-of-the-Meadow Eupatorium fistulosum

July - Oct

x

x

x

a)upright; b)to 8'; c)pink/purple; d)leaves in whorls of 4-7 around stalk; e)frequent; f)wet meadows/wood borders; g)44,295

Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis

July - Oct

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)1.5-7'; c)red/scarlet; d)terminal cluster of brilliant-red tube-like flowers; e)common; f)wet areas; g)56,257

BLUE FLOWERS

NAME

BLOOM PERIOD

DISTRIBUTION

CHARACTERISTICS

NJ

JT

TT

TN

Violet Viola sororia

Feb - June

x

x

x

x

a)low growing; b)to 4"; c)violet/white; d)1” wide flowers, whitish center on smooth stalks; e)common; f)woods/meadows; g)66,80

Verbena Glandularia canadensis

March - May

x

x

x

x

a)upright to speading plant; b)to 1.5'; c)purplish/pink; d)flowers 5-lobed and notched at tip; e)occasional; f)meadows; g)70,n/a

Bluets Houstonia micrantha

March - May

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)to 4"; c)blue/purple; d)4-lobed flowers with reddish eyes; e)occasional; f)open woods/meadows; g)64,262

Henbit Lamium amplexicaule

March - June

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)4-16"; c)pinkish purple; d)upper leaves are roundish and wrap around square stem; e)frequent; f) meadows; g)81, 220

Purple Dead Nettle Lamium purpureum

March - June

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)4-10"; c)pinkish purple; d)heart-shaped veined leaves and square stems; e)occasional; f)meadows; g)81(mislabeled), 221

Wisteria Wisteria sinensis

March - June

x

x

a)climbing vine; b)NA; c)blue/lavender; d)hanging flowered stalks (8” long); e)infrequent; f)moist or wet woods; g)74,145

Ground Ivy Glecoma hederacea

March - June

x

x

a)low growing; b)10"; c)blue/violet; d)leaves are round and heart-shaped at base; e)frequent; f)moist areas; g)83,220

Blue-eyed Grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium

March - June

x

x

a)upright; b)6-20"; c)blue; d)1/2” flowers with yellow eye; e)occasional; f)meadows/woods; g)71,n/a

Ivy-leaf Speedwell Veronica hederaefolia

April - May

x

x

x

x

a)low-branched annual; b)to 16"; c)pale blue; d)small 4-petaled flowers, ivy-looking leaves; e)occasional; f)meadows; g)n/a,248

Dwarf Iris Iris cristata

April - May

x

a)upright; b)3"; c)purple & yellow & white; d)3” wide showy flowers; e)common; f)moist hillsides/woods; g)72,386

Phacelia Phacelia dubia

April - May

x

a)upright/spreading; b)to 14"; c)lavender/white; d)hairy plant, bowl-shaped leaves; e)infrequent; f)meadows/woods; g)85,208

Phlox Phlox pilosa

April - June

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)to 2'; c)pale purple to white; d)5 spreading flower lobes; e)frequent; f)upland woods/meadows; g)62,205

Lyre-Leaf Sage Salvia lyrata

April - June

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)1-2.5'; c)pale blue/lavender; d)square stems, tubular flowers; e)common; f)upland woods/meadows; g)79,226

Periwinkle Vinca minor

April - June

x

a)low growing vine; b)NA; c)lavender/blue; d)5-lobed flowers; e)occasional; f)meadows; g)65,189

Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis

April - July

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)to 3'; c)blue & rose & white; d)3-petaled flowers; e)occasional; f)meadows/woods; g)67,343

Heal-All Prunella vulgaris

April - Dec

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)1-2'; c)blue/violet; d)tubular flowers crowded on a terminal spike; e)common; f)meadows; g)80,224

Skullcap Scutellaria integrifolia

May - Aug

x

x

a)upright; b)to 2.5'; c)blue/pink/white; d)cap-like projection on flower; e)occasional; f) meadows/open woods; g)84,228

Wild Petunia Ruellia caroliniensis

May - Sept

x

x

x

a)upright; b)4" to 2'; c)light purple; d)erect plant, 1-2” long funnel-shaped flowers; e)common; f)woods; g)86,252

Crown Vetch Securigera varia

May - Sept

x

a)upright or sprawling plant; b)to 2.5'; c)bluish/pinkish; d)flowers in a clover-like cluster; e)common; f)meadows; g)77,n/a

Vetch Vicia villosa

May - Sept

x

x

x

x

a)low growing; b)NA; c)blue; d)tubular flowers on long stalks all growing on one side; e)infrequent; f)fields; g)73,144

Dayflower Commelina communis

May - Oct

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)0.5-2'; c)dark blue & white; d)flowers open in morning; e)frequent; f)shade; g)68,341

Chicory Cichorium intybus

May - Dec

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)0.5-5'; c)pale blue; d)disk flowers that open in morning only; e)occasional; f)fields; g)69,283

Butterfly Pea Centrosema virginianum

June - Sept

x

x

x

x

a)trailing or climbing vine; b)NA; c)deep pink/lavender; d)main petal spreading; e)occasional; f)dry upland woods; g)76,128

Morning Glory Ipomoea Purpurea

June - Sept

x

x

x

x

a)trailing vine; b)NA; c)white/pink/purple; d)heart-shaped leaves, flowers funnel-form; e)occasional; f)woods/meadows; g)90,202

Monkey Flower Mimulas alatus

June - Sept

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)1-3'; c)lavender; d)square stems, two-lipped flowers; e)common; f)wet open woods/wet areas; g)88,243

Horse Mint Monarda fistulosa

June - Sept

x

x

a)upright; b)1.5-3.5'; c)lavender; d) two-lipped flowers with hairy upper lip; e)common; f)upland woods/wood borders; g)82,223

Arrow-Leaved Aster Aster sagittifolius

July - Oct

x

x

x

a)upright; b)2-5'; c)bluish/white; d)small daisy-like flower with green stripe on bracts; e)infrequent; f)woods/meadows; g)89,n/a

Beggar Lice Desmodium paniculatum

July - Oct

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)to 5.5'; c)purplish; d)branched flower stalk with many flowers; e)common; f)dry woods; g)78,133

Kudzu Pueraria lobata

July - Oct

x

x

a)sprawling/climbing vine; b)NA; c)reddish purple; d)4-8” clusters of flowers; e)occasional; f)woods/fields; g)63,138

Ironweed Vernonia gigantea

July - Oct

x

x

a)upright; b)to 7.5'; c)purplish; d)disk flowers in loose and open clusters; e)common; f)moist open woods/meadows; g)87,334

YELLOW FLOWERS

NAME

BLOOM PERIOD

DISTRIBUTION

CHARACTERISTICS

NJ

JT

TT

TN

Spicebush Lindera benzoin

March - April

x

x

a)shrub/small tree; b)to 10'; c)yellow; d)small fragrant flowers (clustered); e)infrequent; f)streams/moist woods; g)110,n/a

Carolina Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens

March - May

x

x

x

x

a)climbing vine; b)NA; c)yellow; d)trumpet-shaped flowers, round lobes, very fragrant; e)infrequent; f)woods/meadow; g)94,n/a

Early Buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis

March - May

x

x

x

x

a)upright/spreading plant; b)4-12"; c)yellow; d)glossy flowers, first buttercup to bloom in spring; e)occasional; f)fields; g)92,41

Butterweed Senecio glabellus

March- June

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)1-2.5'; c)yellow; d)small flower disks in a terminal cluster; e)frequent; f)moist open woods/meadows; g)100,323

Yellow Violet Viola pubescens

March - June

x

a)upright; b)0.5-1.5'; c)yellow; d)brownish-purple veins near the base of flower; e)common; f)woods; g)95,78

Yellow Wood Sorrel Oxalis florida

March - Aug

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)to 15"; c)yellow; d)heart-shaped leaflets in sets of three, 5 petal flowers; e)common; f)woods/meadows; g)96,n/a

Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea

April - May

x

x

a)upright; b)8-30"; c)yellow; d)small yellow flowers forming a flat topped cluster; e)infrequent; f)moist woods/streams; g)98,182

Tulip Tree Liriodendron tulipifera

April - June

x

x

x

x

a)tree; b)to 200'; c)greenish yellow/yellow; d)cup-like flower with 6 petals; e)common; f)low woods; g)108,n/a

Tickseed Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata

April - June

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)1-3'; c)yellow; d)flower heads on long stalks, flower rays deeply notched; e)occasional; f)dry meadows; g)102,287

Swamp Buttercup Ranunculus septentrionalis

April - July

x

x

a)upright or spreading plant; b)1-3’; c)yellow; d)glossy flowers; e)occasional; f)swampy or wet areas; g)n/a,42

Dwarf Dandelion Krigia dandelion

April - Aug

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)4" to 1.5'; c)golden yellow; d)flowers with many 1.5” rays; e)occasional; f)open woods/meadows; g)106,310

Yellow Sweet Clover Melilotus officinalis

April - Nov

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)1.5-6.5'; c)yellow; d)long stalks of ¼” flowers; e)frequent; f)fields; g)97,137

Sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum

May - August

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)1.5-3'; c)red/brown/purple; d)winged stems, ½” rays with spherical disk; e)common; f)moist meadows; g)101,300

St. Andew's Cross Hypericum hypericoides

May - Aug

x

x

a)erect to low growing; b)1-3'; c)yellow; d)four ½” petals forming a cross; e)frequent; f)dry or moist areas; g)109,64

Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta

May - Sept

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)1-3'; c)orange-yellow; d)dark brown hemispherical disk with 8-21 rays (1-1.5”); e)common; f)meadows; g)99,320

Sassafras Sassafras albidum

June - July

x

x

x

x

a)shrub or small tree; b)to 50'; c)yellow; d)leaves and stems are aromatic; e)common; f)wood margin/fence rows; g)111,n/a

Trumpet Vine Campsis radicans

June - Oct

x

x

x

x

a)sprawling/climbing vine; b)NA; c)red-orange; d)3” flared funnel-form flowers; e)frequent; f)woods/meadows; g)93,253

Jerusalem Artichoke Helianthus tuberosus

July - Oct

x

x

a)upright; b)3-7'; c)yellow; d)roughish hairy plant, disk flowers 2-3” across; e)common; f)disturbed sites; g)103,305

Giant Goldenrod Solidago altissima

Sept - Oct

x

x

x

x

a)upright; b)4-8'; c)yellow; d)flowers in large curved one-sided clusters; e)common; f)meadows/wood margins; g)107,n/a

Beggar Ticks Bidens aristosa

Sept - Nov

x

x

x

a)upright; b)1-4'; c)yellow; d)8 rays ½-1” long with ½” disk; e)occasional; f)shady wet areas; g)105,279

References

Carman, J.B. 2001. Wildflowers of Tennessee. Highland Rim Press, Tullahoma, TN.

Grimm, W.C. 1993. The Illustrated Book of Wildflowers and

Shrubs, Stackpole books, Mechanicsburg, PA.

Timme, S.L. and Timme, C.C. 2000. Wildflowers of the

Natchez Trace. University Press of Mississippi, Jackson.

Wildflowers of Tennessee and Wildflowers of the Natchez

Trace are sold at the Tupelo Visitor Center, and seasonally

at Mt. Locust, Mississippi and Colbert Ferry, Alabama.